Therapeutic vibrator



M y 30, 1944- J. L. WETTLAUFER v THERAPEUTIC VIBRATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1938 J. L. WETTLAUFER 2,349,837

THERAPEUTIC VIBRATOR May 30, 1944.

IFi led May 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 30, 1944 THERAPEUTIC VIBRATOR John L. Wettlaufer, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as-

signor to Dillon Patents Limited, Toronto,

Ontario, Canada, a cor of Canada notation of the Dominion Application May 14, 1938, Serial No. 207,904

4 Claims.

The principal objects of this invention are to devise a machine for use in the promotion of health which will in an extremely simple manner exercise and energize the muscles and nerves of the body so as to provide exceptional muscular stimulation followed by nerv relaxation throughout the entire body structure and which may be used without danger of strain or harmful nerve tension.

A further and important object isto devise a machine of extremely simple construction and design which will be very dependable in action and low in maintenance and operating costs and which may be used in the application of treatment either standing erect, sitting or lying prone.

The principal feature of the invention consists in mounting an eccentric rotor member in bearings carried in a rigid frame structure which is flexibly supported upon elastic compression members and a high speed of rotation is applied to said rotor to impart its eccentric movement to the flexibly supported structure, thereby creating a very high speed vibration which will be transmitted to the body of the person resting thereon.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine with the top or cover removed and showing one of the bearing ends of the rotor in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the vibratory frame structure showing the rotor and its motor drive and the elastic suspension in elevation.

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view of one of the eccentric ends of the rotor showing the bearing therefor in horizontal section.

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevational detail of one of the end bearings of the rotor.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical mid-sectional view of one of the elastic supports for the vibratory frame structure.

Figure 6 is an elevational detail of one of the rotor balance wheels.

Figure 7 is a vertical mid-sectional view through the line 'l-lof Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view through the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

In the construction of the device herein illustrated the vibratory frame I is preferably formed of thin sheet metal and is of rectangular construction having the sid and end walls rigidly connected by the angle pieces 2.

In each of the end walls there is mounted a ball bearing 3 supported in suitable flanges 4, the inner flange 5 having an enlarged circular opening 6.

A shaft 1 extends transversely of the box-like frame I substantially at its point of centre of gravity and is formed with reduced eccentrically weights H which are removably secured by the bolts I2. Between the segmental weighted portions of each of the fly wheels is arranged a web l3 provided with radially aligned slots H in which one or more bolts may be mounted and adjusted in said slots to regulate the balance or unbalance of the fly wheels.

A pulley I5 is keyed on the eccentrically displaced body portion of the shaft 1 and is driven by a belt Hi from the pulley ll of the motor I8 which is mounted on a base I9 of any suitable design. The mounting of the pulley IS in this way increases the off-centre weight of the shaft and further enhances the vibratory action.

Angle brackets 20 are rigidly secured in the lower corners of the fram I and these brackets rest upon the upper ends of coil compression springs 2| which rest upon rubber washers 22 on the base. Bolts 23 extend upwardly through the base and through the centre of the springs 2| and through the brackets. These bolts are surrounded by a rubber tube 24 and a second rubber tube 25 is arranged around the tube 24 inside of the springs and another short length of larger rubber tubing 26 encircles the upper end of the tube surrounding the bolt above each bracket 20.

A nut 21 at the top of each bolt is clamped against a suitable washer 28.

The arrangement of rubber tubing surrounding the bolts within the springs 2| is for the purpose of eliminating noise and also to act as a vertical cushion in addition to the springs when a load is placed upon the frame.

The frame I is preferably provided with a foot rest 29 which is in the form of a metal tube rigidly secured to the outside of the frame and it extends sufliciently far from the frame to enable a person sitting on the top of the frame to rest the feet thereon clear of the floor.

The top 30 preferably slides on the out-turned flanges 3| of the side members of the frame I and may be of any suitable length, that is, when it is just the length of the frame, it forms a seat, but if a table for use in prone position by the person with the result that the eccentric ends impart their eccentric movement to the frame through the bearings in which it is mounted, and the frame being flexibly suspended, vibrates throughout its entire mass on its spring suspension. The off-centre or orbitai motion of the shaft is thus utilized to enhance the vibratory effect. A person sitting upon the frame or standing thereon or lying down will thus have imparted to the body this high speed vibratory movement which vibrates every particle of their being with the result that a very exceptional visceral and muscular stimulation is imparted, thereby giving to the entire body the effect of a complete uniform massage which is transferred from the fine oscillating vibrations of the frame through the bony I is a thorough exercise of all parts of the body which breaks down stiff muscles by releasing the tension. thereby relieving the nervous system from undue strictures and tension. A very effective treatment for overtaxed muscles or stricture of muscles through nervous overstrain may be effected in a very brief period.

The device is extremely compact and all the parts thereof are simple and rugged and it will be understood that the vibratory effect can be readily regulated by alteration of the eccentric weighting of the balance of the fly wheels as they can be readily placed in concentric balance or off balance to any desired degree.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. .A therapeutic vibrator of the type having a frame flexibly mounted, and an eccentrically weighted shaft member rotatably mounted in said hance the vibratory effect, and fly wheel members are mounted on the eccentrically displaced body portion of the shaft on the inward side of the bearings immediately adjacent the reduced eccentric trunnion portions and within the said frame, the weight of the said fly wheel members thereby supplementing or directly controlling the offset weight of the said eccentrically displaced body portion of the shaft and minimizing binding or bending thrusts thereon.

2. A therapeutic vibrator as claimed in claim 1 in which the fly wheels are provided with radially aligned slots therein for the reception of one or more balance-control bolts.

3. A therapeutic vibrator comprising a rigid frame, a box-like frame flexibly mounted on said frame, a rotor eccentrically mounted transversely of said box-like frame with its axis at substantially the centre of gravity thereof, a motor mounted on the rigid frame with the box-like frame extending down thereover in a substantial enclosure, a flexible drive connection between said rotor and motor, said box-like frame forming a protective enclosure for the motor and the flexible drive connection, said box-like frame having angle brackets secured within the corners thereof, bolts extending from the rigid frame through said corner brackets, and rubber sleeves encifcling said bolts under compression and insulating said bolts from metallic contact with the said brackets.

4. A vibrator of the type having a frame flexibly mounted, and an eccentrically weighted shaft member rotatably mounted in said frame and flexible drive means for rotating same to impart vibratory motion to the frame, characterized in that said shaft is itself provided with reduced eccentric trunnion portions at the ends rotatably journalled in the frame whereby the 'ofi-center portion of the shaft is utilized to enhance the vibratory effect, and flywheel members are mounted on the eccentrically displaced body portion of the shaft adjacent the reduced eccentric trunnion portions, the weight of the said fly wheel members thereby supplementing or directly controlling the offset weight ofthe said eccentrically displaced body portion of the shaft and minimizing binding or bending thrusts thereon.

JOHN L. WE'I'ILAUFER. 

